Drama low at llama show

Jonathan Gallardo | Greene County News Catherine Lovejoy shares a special moment with her alpaca.

Camryn Joseph, winner of the Champion Exhibitor award, tries to calm down her llama in the face of a terrifying umbrella.

Makaya Simons tries to move her llama, Scarlet, forward on the obstacle course.

XENIA – Although llamas and alpacas have a reputation for spitting, this was not the case Saturday during the 2015 Greene County Fair Llama show when instead they handled the competition with poise.

The show consisted of three parts. The first part was showmanship, where the llamas and their handlers walked around for the judges. The second part was comprised of an obstacle course. The camelids had to weave through poles, walk backwards into a corner, and jump over a hurdle, among other things. It was here where some of the creatures proved to be more stubborn than others.

The third section of the show was a public relations obstacle course that simulated real world distractions, including balloons, chairs and a fan. The toughest obstacle of the course proved to be the umbrella, which scared most of the animals and even caused one to get away from its handler.

Camryn Joseph finished second in public relations and first in the skill competition, and she won the Champion Exhibitor award for her overall score.

Xenia resident Makaya Simons and her llama, Scarlet, finished first in public relations and second in the skill competition, and they won the Annie Stewart Memorial Outstanding Camelid Exhibitor Award.

This is Simons’ second year presenting at the Greene County Fair, said the win surprised her.

“I was really excited. I wasn’t expecting to win. I was very surprised, excited,” she said.

Simons said that the hardest part about training a llama is “getting them used to walking and used to being on a lead and harness.”

Simons said that she has enjoyed taking care of Scarlet, whom she has had for two years.

“My llama gives kisses,” she said. “Every time she sees me, she gets all excited.”

Jonathan Gallardo | Greene County News Catherine Lovejoy shares a special moment with her alpaca.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/08/web1_Llamas01.jpgJonathan Gallardo | Greene County News Catherine Lovejoy shares a special moment with her alpaca.

Camryn Joseph, winner of the Champion Exhibitor award, tries to calm down her llama in the face of a terrifying umbrella.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/08/web1_Llamas02.jpgCamryn Joseph, winner of the Champion Exhibitor award, tries to calm down her llama in the face of a terrifying umbrella.

Makaya Simons tries to move her llama, Scarlet, forward on the obstacle course.

http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/32/2015/08/web1_Llamas03.jpgMakaya Simons tries to move her llama, Scarlet, forward on the obstacle course.